Electric igniter for explosive-engines



UNTTEE STATES PATENT EErcE.

JAMES H. FREV, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,778, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed October 2,1897. Serial No.653,778. (No model- To all whom it ntcty concern.-

Be itknown that 1, JAMES TLFREW, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New Castle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Automatic and Hand Igniters, of which the followingis a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in combined automatic and hand-operated i gniters to be employed in connection with gas, gasolene, or other engiues employing a similar explosive mixture.

The invention has for its object to construct an igniter for the purpose above described that may be operated by the hand for generating the spark necessary to produce the first explosion for starting the engine, the

plungers of which alternately engage a slide to operate a contact-pin for generating the sparks and automatically producing the succeeding explosions.

The leading features of my invention reside in the spring-actuated contact-pin which projects into the explosion chamber and when forced inwardly engages an electrode connected toa dynamo located at any suitable point and in the automatic igniter the specific construction and arrangement of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout both views, in which Figure l-is a cross-sectional view of a por tion of a gas-engine equipped with my improved igniter. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Referring now to the drawings ,by reference-letters, (t denotes the waterjacketed shell of the engine, and in the upper part of the same is arranged the explosion-chamber b, inclosed by a plate or cover 0, said chamber being preferably partly inclosed by a waterjacket d, which prevents the same becoming overheated from the successive explosions.

Arranged in the side of the shell and protruding into the explosion-chamber'is a contact-pin e, which is held normally out of engagement by a spring f, arranged on the said rod within a housing g, attached to the side of the shell.

Arranged in the plate or cover is an elec trode h, connected by a wire 70 to a dynamo or battery located at any suitable point. This electrode operates in a sleeve Z, secured in the plate or cover and having a screw-threaded seat to receive the flanged casting m, supporting a cap it. This casting also supports a cup 0, forming a chamber to receive the spring 19, encircling the electrode within the cap it. The contact-pin q of the automatic 'igniter is pivotally secured between lugs 0' on'the slide 25 and operates on a rod or shaft 7", secured in suitable bearings 8, provided therefor on the walls of the explosion-chamher. This slide tis supported by and operates upon an inner ring or casing a. This slide 25 is provided with a cut-away portion a terminating in inclined shoulders 1), adapted to alternately engage the valves 0 0 when operated by the plungers Cl 61 and lift the valves from their seats 61 61 so as to admit the explosive mixture from the explosion-chamber b to the combustion chambers e (2 The valvesc' c are automatically closed by means of springs f f arranged on the stems 0 0 respectively, within the housings 0 provided therefor on top of the plate 0. The explosive mixture is admitted to the explosion-chamber through inlet-pipe g,in which is arranged a valve 9 having a downward movement, which closes and prevents a backward explosion of the mixture from the chamber.

Operation: Assuming that a charge of explosive mixture has been introduced into the explosion-chamber, the contact-pin e is forced inwardly, bringing the same into contact with the electrode, and when separated produces the spark to cause the explosion. Assuming, further, that when this explosion occurs the valve 0' is open and the valve 0 closed, the explosive mixture enters the combustionchamber 6 through the open valve 0 and forces the plunger d downwardly, and the two plungers being connected together simultaneously causes the plunger d to ascend and engage the slide 1, causing the inclined shoulder 1) to engage and open valve 0 while valve 0' is automatically closed by its spring f. As this slide is thus shifted by the action of the plungers the contact-pin q engages the electrode h, and when separated produces the necessary spark to cause an explosion of each successive charge of explosive mixture admitted to the explosion-chamber.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination in a gas-engine, an explosion-chamber, an electrode projecting into said explosion-chamber, valves arranged in said chamber, a valve-actuating slide, means for operating said slide to automatically open and close the valves, and a contact-pin pivotally supported on said slide and adapted to be brought into contact with and separated from the electrode to produce the ignitingspark by the operating of the valve-actuating slide, substantially as shown and described.

JAMES II. FREVV.

\Vi tn esses:

JOHN NOLAND, GEO. l3. PARKER. 

